Spread of mold fungi and their contamination of feed in Southern Ukraine

Abstract

Goal. To monitor the spread of mold fungi and their contamination of fodder in the South of Ukraine. Methods. The veterinary and sanitary condition of grain products was determined based on the results of organoleptic, toxicological, and microbiological studies; also the appearance of feed, color, smell, visible signs of damage by fungi, and damage by insect pests were analyzed. Results. During 2015–2022, 613 samples of grain feed for farm animals in Southern Ukraine were analyzed, of which 67.2% corresponded to the maximum permissible level of toxicity, 16.6% had low toxicity, and 15.5% had high toxicity. Entomoacarological stu­dies indicated contamination and damage of grain and grain products by such dominant species of pests as Sitophilus granarius, Nemapogon granella, Tribolium confusum, Ptinus fur, and Bruchidius incarnatus. Damage to grain and grain products by micromycetes was revealed. Total of 417 field isolates were identified. The main pollutants were fungal saprophytes of the Mucoraceae family — 65 (15.6%), Aspergillus genera — 221 (53.0%) isolates, Penicillium — 104 (24.9%), Fusarium — 27 (6.5%). Conclusions. The bulk (67.2%) of the researched fodder for farm animals in the South of Ukraine met sanitary and hygienic requirements. An excess of 1.2–2.8 times the permissible rate of contamination of grain by insect pests was revealed; damage to grain fodder by microscopic fungi was established, 417 field isolates were fixed, of which 57 (13.7%) had high toxigenicity, and 59 (14.1%) had low toxigenicity. The most common fodder contaminants were fungi of the genus Aspergillus — 221 (53.0%) isolates, genus Penicillium — 104 (24.9%), family Mucoraceae — 65 (15.6%), genus Fusarium — 27 (6.5%).